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Kūkulu

Partner Program

Kukulu Partner Program

The Kūkulu Partner Program is a trusted network of professionals who work alongside Hawai‘i Community Lending to support native Hawaiian families in building or buying homes on Hawaiian Home Lands. 

This group of partners includes contractors, building suppliers, draftsmen, architects, realtors, lenders, and more — all of whom are aligned with our mission to create affordable housing.

These professionals are not just service providers — they are part of an ecosystem that understands the unique needs of our communities.

Access our Kūkulu Partners through the Ho‘okele Home Program

When you enroll in the Ho‘okele Home Program, your assigned Navigation Specialist will help guide you through every step of your journey. One of the key benefits of the Hoʻokele Home Program is access to our Kūkulu Partner network .

Whether you need help finding a contractor or a draftsman to complete your home plans, your Navigation Specialist will coordinate those connections for you — so you don’t have to waste time searching or waiting for someone to call you back.

Types of Professionals in the Kūkulu Partner Program

When the time is right, you’ll be referred to professionals in our partner network, which includes:

• General Contractors
• Construction Companies
• Building Supply Vendors
• Draftsmen and Architects
• Electricians and Plumbers
• Surveyors and Engineers
• Other professionals as needed

These professionals have been carefully selected based on their commitment to our values, their experience, and their willingness to partner. While they may charge for their services, they receive no incentives or kickbacks from HCL.

Become a Kūkulu Partner
Ho‘okele Program

About Aikū’ē Kalima

Aikū’ē Kalima, former Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Manager for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, joins Hawaiʻi Community Lending as its lending director.
Kalima comes to HCL with more than 25 years of experience in community development and mortgage lending. In his new position, Kalima will direct HCL’s consumer, construction, mortgage and small business lending.
“As a native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary, I understand the financial needs for economic development and quality housing for kānaka is great,” said Kalima, who led OHA’s deployment of $9.8 million in loans to 286 native Hawaiians statewide over the last five years. “For over 25 years, I have worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, educating kānaka on the skills necessary to achieve the dream of homeownership and providing resources to achieve financial sustainability. I plan to continue serving the lāhui empowering ‘ohana and communities as the lending director for Hawai‘i Community Lending.”
Kalima takes the reins of HCL’s $16-million revolving loan fund and will oversee a team of seven staff members statewide. “HCL is honored to have Aikū’ē join us in our mission to help tackle our housing crisis by funding native Hawaiian and local families to build, buy and save homes from foreclosure,” said HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath. “He has proven leadership in both the public and private sectors and has the passion to get families on the land through homeownership.”

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About Nikki

Nikki Hollern is a mother of five, born and raised in Upcountry Maui, but she spent the last 15 years in the beautiful town of Lahaina. Lahaina stole her heart, with the people and the town being unlike any other. After the fire, her family had to relocate to Kahului.

Her heart remains in Lahaina, and her goal is to help this amazing community get back to where they belong. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the HCL ‘ohana, helping navigate this incredibly hard time and hopefully serving as a guiding light to assist the community in returning home and coming back even stronger.

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